Household-tool for repairing the valve-seats of faucets and the like.



A. PANN.

HOUSEHOLD TOOL FOR REPAIRING THE VALVE SEATS OF FAUOETS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21.1918.

Patented Jul 9,1918;

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AUGUST PANN, OF BRGOKLYN,

NEW YORK.

HOUSEHOLD-TOOL FOR REPAIRING THE VALVE-SEATS OE FAUCETS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1918.

Application filed February 21, 1918. Serial No. 218,384.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Anons'r PANN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Household-Tools .for Repairing the Valve-Seats of Faucets and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a tool, complete in itself, which every householder can use to repair the worn valveseats of faucets. It is a well-known fact that after the ordinary water faucets, such as are found in dwellings, have been in use for some time, the circular seat or ring against which the washer of the valve stem bears, becomes worn and presents an irregular or uneven surface to the washer. The result is that the washer, which is usually of leather, fiber or hard rubber, can no longer make the faucet water-tight. This condition cannot be remedied by the mere insertion of a new washer, because the leakage is due to the uneven surface of the valve-seat on which the washer bears. Heretofore, the householder having no tool at his command with which to repair the worn or defective valve-seat, either had to send for the plumber to repair the seat, or else had to buy an entirely new faucet, or at least an entirely new stem for the same. In either case the householder was put to considerable expense.

The tool of my present invention is primarily intended to be an aid to the householder and enable him to repair a worn or defective valve-seat in a faucet, without having to go to the expense of securing a plumber to do it for him, or of buying a new faucet.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 shows a tool embodying my invention, in position to repair the worn valve seat of a faucet, certain arts being shown in cross-section for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View taken approxi mately on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a detailed view showing the cutting member of my repair tool in crosssection and also showing an additional ring surrounding the cutting member when the tool is used to repair a faucet of a larger internal diameter than that shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, the letter F represents a faucet of ordinary construction, such as are used in almost every house. The valve-stem which engages with the screw-threaded portion 7' of the faucet is omitted from the drawings, as its construction and operation are understood by everybody. It is only necessary to say here that the reference letter 1) indicates the circular valve-seat or ring against which bears the washer carried by the lower end of the valve-stem. When the faucet is turned off, the washer rests firmly against the seat or ring o, thereby completely shutting off the water.

As previously stated, the valve-seat or ring '1) becomes worn after a time, and thus presents an uneven or irregular surface at the top, so that the washer at the lower end of the valvestem can no longer shut off the water without leakage. The tool which constitutes my present invention is designed to smooth off the upper surface of the valve .1 and make the same practically as good as new. To this end, my invention comprises in its preferred form, a stem 1.pro vided at its lower end with a cutter indicated as a whole by C. This cutter consists of a tubular or sleeve member provided at its lower end with cutting teeth 2 adapted to engage the valve 1; when the tool is oper; ated, as hereinafter described. The cutter G, which fits snugly on the stem 1, is provided with one or two slots or recesses 3 which engage the transverse pin 4: fixed upon the stem 1. This pin-and-slot engagement between the cutter and the stem prevents rotary movement as well as upward movement of the cutter on the stem, besides acting as a guide for properly positioning the cutter on the stem. To prevent the cutter from dropping off the stem, as when the tool is lifted out of the faucet, I provide a set screw 5 which bears at its inner end against the stem. A slight turn of the screw 5 will unlock the cutter and permit the same to he slid off the stem when desired.

The upper end of the stem 1 is provided with a rotatable head or knob indicated as a whole by K, by means of which the operator, by placing his hand thereon, is able to eXert the required downward pressure on the stem to impart a cutting action to the teeth 2 of the cutter C. It will be understood that unless s ufiicient downward pressure is brought to bear on the stem 1, the cut- I ter cannot perform its function ofsmoothing the'valve o. The head or knob K may be of any suitable construction. In the drawings I have shown the head K, which is preferably of wood, formed with a circular flange 6. On the inside, this flange is surrounded by'a bearing collar 7 of metal, and on the outsideby a metal strengthening ring 8. An adjustable screw 9 passes through the parts 8, 6 and 7 and terminates in the groove 10' formed in the stem 1. In this way the head K is rotatably mounted on the stem 1, and yet is prevented from sliding longitudinally of the stem. To remove the head K it is only necessary to turn the screw 9 until its inner end has passed out of the groove or channel 10.

Midway of its length, the stem 1 has rigidly mounted thereon a ratchet 11. This rigid connection between the stem and the ratchet is diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 2 by the key 11 in dotted lines. Below the ratchet 11, and spaced therefrom, is a collar 12 which' is shown fixed to the stem by means of a removable pin 13. Between the ratchet 11 and the collar 12 is mounted a suitable handle-bar indicated as a whole by H. The handle-bar H, the outer or free portion of which is shown broken away in Figs. 1 and 2, carries a pawl lat which is pivoted on the handle-bar by a pivot 15. The pawl 14 is so arranged that its free end engages the teeth of the ratchet 11. Suitable spring means is provided for urging the pawl against the teeth of the ratchet. In the drawing, I have shown spring means in the form of a small coil spring 16 which bears at one end in a recess 17 in the pawl 14, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and which bears at its outer end against a suitable support 18. In the particular form of my invention shown in the drawings, the spring-supporting member 18 projects from the forward edge of the handle-bar H, as indicated at 19 in Figs. 1 and 2, being then curved upwardly at an angle into such posi tion that it terminates in alinement with the pawl 14, so that the spring 16 is firmly held between the pawl and the free end of the member 18. Any other suitable spring means may be employed for normally holding the pawl 14: against the teeth of the ratchet 11.

The operation of my new tool will be clear from the foregoing and may be briefly stated as follows: After the tool has been placed in position as shown in Fig. 1, the handle-bar H is pulled toward the operatorthat is to say, in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow at in Fig. 2. This movement of the handle-bar H, which may be called its forward or operative movement, produces a corresponding movement of the stem 1 and the cutter C, through the pawl 1 1 and the ratchet 11. During this forward movement of the handle-bar, the pawl 14 is held in firm engagement with one of the teeth in the ratchet 11, as shown in Fig. 2, sothat the handle-bar H, the stem 1 and the cutter C,

move as a single member. During this operation the teeth 2 of the cutter C out into and thereby smooth the upper surfaeeof the defective valve-seat U, it being understood that the operator bears down upon the head or knob K to hold the cutter teeth 2 effectively against the valve-seat. The cutter teeth being made of a hard material, such as steel, a few turns of the stem will be sulficient for the teeth to smooth the metal of the valve-seat '0 which is of softer material, such as brass or a similar composition.

The forward movement of the handle-bar H will, for convenience of operation, be but through a small angle, whereupon the operator will then push the handle-bar H from him to place it in position for the next forward movement. During this return movement of the handle-bar H, as indicated by the arrow 1) in Fig. 2, the pawl let will ride idly over the teeth of the ratchet 11, and there will be no movement of the stem 1 and the utter C.

The oscillating movement of the handlebar H to operate the cutter C, enables the tool to be used on a faucet which is close to the wall, as water faucets in houses usually are. In Fig. 1, for instance, the wall from which the faucet F projects, is diagrammatically indicated by the dotted lines W. In

order to make the drawings clear, I have shown the handle-bar H as extending beyond the wall W from. which the faucet F projects. No matter how close the valve portion of the faucet is to the wall or any other background, the repair tool of my invention can be properly operated by the oscillating movement of the handle-bar H.

It will be observed from Fig. lthat the sleeve or tubular portion of the cutter G extends substantially into contact with the inside wall f of the faucet. By this arrangement and construction, the cutter also forms a centralizing bearing or guide during the operation of the tool, thus insuring the proper positioning of the cutter teeth ,2 on

the valve o. Consequently, the action of the teeth 2 on the valve-seat is rendered uniform.

WVhen it is desired to use my new tool on a faucet which has an interior diameter larger than the diameter of the cutter C, I

employ an additional ring R, as shown in outfit, as his hammer, saw, screwdriver, and

so forth. Being simple in construction, and the parts being readily put together, my new repair tool may be manufactured and sold at a low cost. If desired, a set of cutters of difierent sizes may be provided for each tool. These cutters are readily slipped in place on the stem and are quickly removed therefrom.

Although I have shown and described a specific form of construction, it is obvious that changes and modifications in detail may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A tool for repairing the valve-seats of faucets and the like, comprising a rotatable stem, a sleeve-member mounted on said stem at the lower end thereof, cutting teeth on said stem at the lower end of said sleevemember for engaging the valve-seat and smoothing the same when the stem is rotated, said sleeve-1nember extending substantially into contact with the inside wall of the faucet to constitute thereby a centralizing bearing or guide during the operation of the tool, a ratchet fixed upon said stem above said sleeve-member, a handle-bar rotatably mounted at one end on said stem and having a spring-pressed pawl for engaging the teeth of said ratchet, whereby the forward operation of said handle-bar rotates said stem and cutting teeth, while the reverse or return movement of said handlebar causes said pawl to ride idly over the teeth of said ratchet, and a head or knob rotatably mounted on the upper end of said stem for holding the tool by hand and exerting the necessary downward pressure on the cutting teeth when the same are moved over the valve-seat.

2. A tool for repairing the valve-seats of faucets and the like, comprising a rotatable stem, a cutter mounted upon the lower portion of said stem, said cutter consisting of a sleeve-member provided at its lower end with cutting teeth for smoothing the valve seat when the tool is operated, cooperating means on said stem and sleeve-member for fixing the latter against rotary as well as longitudinal movement on said stem, said means being adjustable to permit the ready removal and attachment of said cutter from and to said stem, said sleeve-member extending substantially into contact with the inside wall of the faucet to constitute thereby a centralizing bearing or guide during the operation of the tool, a ratchet fixed upon said stem above said cutter, a handle-bar rota-' tably mounted at one end on said stem and having a spring-pressed pawl for engaging the teeth of said ratchet, whereby the forward operation of said handle-bar rotates said stem and cutter, while the reverse or return movement of said handle-bar causes said pawl to ride idly over the teeth of said ratchet, and a head or knob rotatably mounted on the upper end of said stem for holding the tool by hand and exerting the necessary downward pressure on the cutting teeth when the same are moved over the valve-seat.

3. A tool for repairing the valve-seats of faucets and thelike, comprising a rotatable stem, a cutter mounted upon the lower portion of said stem, said cutter consisting of a sleeve-member provided at its lower end with cutting teeth for smoothing the valveseat when the tool is operated, said sleevemember having a slot or recess at its upper end, a fixed pin or lug on said stem adapted to engage in said slot or recess when the cutter is inserted in place on the stem, said pinand-slot engagement preventing rotary as well as upward movement of said cutter on said stem, an adjustable screw carried by said sleeve-member for securing the cutter to the stem against downward or separating movement, said adjustable screw permitting ready removal of the cutter from the stem, said sleeve-member extending substantially into contact with the inside wall of the faucet to constitute thereby a centralizing bearing or guide during the operation of the tool, a ratchet fixed upon said stem above said cutter, a handle-bar rotatably mounted at one end on said stem and having a springpressed pawl for engaging the teeth of said ratchet, whereby the forward operation of said handle-bar rotates said stem and cutter, while the reverse or return movement of said handle-bar causes said pawl to ride idly over the teeth of said ratchet, and a head or knob rotatably mounted on the upper end of said stem for holding the tool by hand and exerting downward pressure on the cutting teeth when the same are moved over the valve-seat.

4. A tool for repairing the valve-seats of faucets and the like, comprising a rotatable stem, cutting teeth fixed upon said stem at the lower end thereof for engaging the valve-seat and smoothing the same when the stem is rotated, a ratchet fixed upon said stem above said cutting teeth, a handle-bar rotatably mounted at one end on said stem and having a spring-pressed pawl for engaging the teeth of said ratchet, whereby the forward operation of said handle-bar rotates said stem and cutting teeth, while the reverse or return movement of said handle-bar causes said pawl to ride idly over the teeth of said ratchet, a head or knob rotatably mounted on the upper end of said stem for holding the tool by hand and exerting downward pressure on the cutting teeth when the same are moved over the valveseat, and bearing or guiding means on said stem adapted to engage the faucet for-centralizing the stem during the operation thereof. r

5. A tool for repairing the valve-seats-of faucets and the like, comprising a rotatable stem, a'cutter mounted upon :the lower portion of said stem, said cutter consisting of a sleeve -member provided at .its lower end with cutting teeth for smoothing the valveseat when the toolis operated, cooperating means on said stem and sleeve-member for said pawl to ride idly over the teeth of said ratchet, and a head orknob rotatably mounted on the upper end of said stem for holding the tool by hand and exerting the necessary downward pressure on the cutting teeth when the same are moved over the Valve-seat.

6. A tool for repairing the valve-seats of faucets and the like, comprising a rotatable stem, a cutter mounted upon the lower por- Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

tion of said stem, said cutter consisting of a sleeve-member provided at its lower end with cutting teeth for smoothing the valveseat when the tool is operated, said sleeveend, a fixed pin or lug on said step adapted to engage in said slot or recess when the cutter is inserted in place on the stem, said pin-and-slot engagement preventing 'rotary member having a slot or recess at its upper as well as upward movement of said out- -movement of said handle-bar causes said pawl to ride idly over the teeth of said ratchet, and a head or knob rotatably mounted on the upper end of said stem for holding the tool by hand and exerting downward pressure on the cutting teeth when the same are moved over the valve-seat.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 19 day of February, 1918.

AUGUST PANN.

Washington, D. 0. 

